O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a conversão dos açúcares do bagaço de cana em etanol, com foco na integração entre o pré-tratamento com H2SO4 diluído, sacarificação com celulases comerciais e fermentação com Scheffersomyces stipitis DSM- 3651, buscando-se uma configuração simplificada. Previamente aos ensaios de integração, o bagaço foi moído para a redução de sua heterogeneidade granulométrica. Após a moagem, o bagaço foi submetido a fracionamento, por fluxo de ar, separando frações de fibras e finos. Estas frações foram submetidas a analise composicional e observou-se que a fração de finos possui elevados teores de cinzas e extrativos, além de baixo teor de lignina em relação à fração de fibras, entretanto a estratégia de fracionamento do bagaço não foi seletiva. Os experimentos de definição da condição de pré-tratamento mais adequada para a avaliação entre integração entre sacarificação e fermentação foram conduzidos em reator Parr (2 gal) com 2Kg de mistura reacional, incluindo bagaço (10%), água e ácido. Três condições operacionais de pré-tratamento foram avaliadas: 140°C/1%H2SO4/20 min, 150°C/2% H2SO4/30 min e 160°C/3% H2SO4/40 min. Após o pré-tratamento, o slurry foi separado em sólido pré-tratado e hidrolisado hemicelulósico, por filtração. Em seguida o bagaço pré-tratado foi lavado exaustivamente com água destilada e submetido à hidrólise enzimática com celulases (10 FPU/g bagaço) por 72h. Paralelamente, o hidrolisado foi submetido à fermentação com S. stipitis (3 g/L) por 120h. As composições das frações geradas após o pré-tratamento (bagaço pré-tratado, hidrolisado e água de lavagem), quanto aos teores de açúcares e sólidos (solúveis e insolúveis) foram determinadas. As três condições de pré-tratamento levaram a remoção completa de hemicelulose do bagaço, e o aumento da severidade do pré-tratamento acarretou em aumento da eficiência de sacarificação dos sólidos pré-tratados, porém em menor recuperação de glicose após hidrólise enzimática. Por outro lado, o aumento da severidade do pré-tratamento prejudicou a recuperação de açúcares no hidrolisado hemicelulósico, elevando concentrações de ácido acético, furfural e HMF, resultando em inibição completa de fermentação daqueles obtidos nas condições de 150°C e 160°C. A conversão do sólido prétratado (lavado ou não-lavado) + hidrolisado (destoxificado ou não), e do slurry completo (destoxificado ou não) ambos obtidos após pré-tratamento à 140°C, foi avaliada em duas configurações, respectivamente: \"Fermentação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico (FHH), em separado da sacarificação do sólido pré-tratado e da fermentação do hidrolisado celulósico, separadas (SHF)\" e \"Sacarificação do sólido pré-tratado, em separado da co-fermentação dos hidrolisados celulósico e hemicelulósico, integradas (ISHCF)\". Na primeira, observouse que a destoxificação do hidrolisado com lacase (1U/mL) aumentou a produção de etanol, e possibilitou a redução do tempo de conversão em 48h. A sacarificação de sólidos não-lavados foi prejudicada pela presença de compostos solúveis e o condicionamento com lacase não influenciou a eficiência de sacarificação. A eficiência máxima de conversão em configuração de SHF+FHH foi de 28,4%, devido a não lavagem do sólido pré-tratado (13,7%) e destoxificação do HH (14,7%). Em ISHCF, observou-se que a eficiência de conversão de slurry integral destoxificado com lacase é mais alta (38,9%) do que em SHF+FHH, devido a não separação sólido-líquido e maior disponibilidade de açúcares. / This study aimed to evaluate the conversion of sugarcane bagasse into ethanol, focusing on integration between pretreatment with dilute H2SO4, saccharification with commercial cellulases and fermentation with Scheffersomyces stipitis DSM-3651, in a simplified design process. Prior to integration assays, the bagasse was milled to reduce its granulometric heterogeneity. After milling, the fractions of bagasse (fiber and pith) were separated by air flow. These fractions had their chemical composition determined and it was observed that pith fraction has higher content of ash, soluble extractives and low lignin content than fiber fraction; however the separation method was not selective. The experiments to define the most suitable pretreatment condition for evaluating the integration between saccharification and fermentation were conducted in a Parr reactor (2 gal) with 2 kg of reaction mixture, including bagasse (10%), water and acid. Three operational conditions of pretreatment were evaluated: 140°C/1% H2SO4/20min, 150°C/ 2% H2SO4/30 min and 160°C/3% H2SO4/40min. After pretreatment, the slurry was separated in pretreated solid and hemicellulosic hydrolyzate, by filtration. The pretreated solid was thoroughly washed with distilled water and submitted to enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulases (10 FPU / g residue) for 72h. In parallel, the hemicelullosic hydrolyzate was submitted to fermentation with S. stipitis (3 g / L) for 120h. The compositions of the fractions generated after pretreatment (pretreated bagasse, hemicellulosic hydrolyzate and washing water), regarding sugars and solids (soluble and insoluble) contents were determined. All pretreatment conditions led to complete removal of hemicellulose from the bagasse, and the increase of pretreatment severity improved the saccharification yield of pretreated solid, but, leaded to low recovery of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. On the other hand, the increase of pretreatement severity impaired the recovery of sugars in hemicellulosic hydrolysate besides increasing the concentrations of acetic acid, furfural and HMF, resulting in complete inhibition of fermentation of those obtained under the pretreatement conditions of 150°C and 160°C. The conversion of pretreated solid (washed and non-washed) + hemicellulosic hydrolyzate (with or without detoxification) and of the whole slurry, both obtained at 140°C was evaluated in two process designs, respectively: \"Fermentation of hemicellulosic hydrolyzate (FHH), separated from hydrolysis of pretreated solid and fermentation of cellulosic hydrolyzate, separately (SHF)\" and \"Integrated hydrolysis of pretreated solid separated from co-fermentation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic hydrolysates (ISHCF)\". In the first, it was observed that the detoxification of the hydrolyzate with laccase (1U / ml) improved the ethanol production, particularly for conversion time. The saccharification of non-washed solid was hampered by the presence of soluble compounds and its conditioning treatment with laccase did not influence the saccharification yield. The maximum conversion efficiency in SHF + FHH configuration was 28.4% due to not washing the pretreated solid (13.7%) and detoxification of hemicellulosic hydrolysate (14.7%). In the second process design, it was observed that the conversion efficiency of whole slurry, with laccase detoxification, was higher (38.9%) than in the separate configuration, with a lower conversion time.

Uma tecnologia para o fracionamento de materiais lignocelulósicos, baseada no uso de solventes apropriados, foi proposta para separar os principais componentes (celulose, hemicelulose e lignina). De acordo com a técnica, é adicionado ao material um solvente para celulose (ácido fosfórico concentrado); então, acetona é adicionada para promover a precipitação da celulose na forma amorfa. As etapas subsequentes são as seguintes: uma primeira extração com acetona para remover a lignina; e uma segunda extração com água, para remover a hemicelulose. Estudos aplicando o fracionamento, denominado \"COSLIF\" (\"cellulose solvent and organic solvent based lignocellulose fractionation\"), em diferentes materiais demonstraram altas taxas e rendimentos de hidrólise da celulose em presença de baixas cargas enzimáticas. Neste contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi definir condições apropriadas para fracionar o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar usando o fracionamento COSLIF, com vistas à produção de etanol de 2ª geração. Para otimização das condições de fracionamento, foi realizado um planejamento fatorial 25, com as seguintes variáveis: concentração de ácido fosfórico (81-85 %), temperatura (40-60 ºC), tempo (30-120 min), volume de acetona (80-120 mL) e volume de água (120-160 mL), determinando, a partir da composição das frações geradas, parâmetros relacionados à recuperação e seletividade do fracionamento. Apesar de grande variabilidade experimental, conseguiu-se definir a condição ótima por meio de análise estatística, para o fracionamento de 1 g de bagaço (massa seca): ácido fosfórico (83,8 %), temperatura (45,8 ºC), tempo (56,1 min), volume de acetona (91,6 mL) e volume de água (131,6 mL). Esta condição, reproduzida em escala ampliada, foi eficaz na amorfização da celulose e na separação da hemicelulose no extrato aquoso. O rendimento global (RG + X (S + L)) obtido foi de 87,1%; o rendimento de recuperação de glucana na fração sólida (RG(S)) foi de 84,6%; e o rendimento de recuperação de xilana na fração líquida (RX(L)) foi de 61,0%. Em relação à seletividade de recuperação de glucana na fração sólida (SG(S)) foi obtido 95,3%; e à seletividade de recuperação de xilana na fração líquida (SX(L)), foi obtido 72,7%. A análise estrutural da fração sólida, por meio de difração de raios-X e termoporometria, demonstrou que a tecnologia consegue romper a estrutura do material, diminuindo a cristalinidade e aumentando a porosidade. O índice de cristalinidade, que no bagaço \"in natura\" era de 44%, foi reduzido para 0; a área superficial cumulativa para moléculas com diâmetros de até 10 nm, que no bagaço \"in natura\", era de 43 m2/g, foi aumentada para 166 m2/g. Aliada à remoção de hemicelulose, tais alterações proporcionaram elevada eficiência de sacarificação da glucana em glicose; 93%, em 24 horas de hidrólise. O hidrolisado enzimático foi fermentado por Scheffersomyces stipitis, com produção de 10,5 g/L de etanol em 48 horas de fermentação; o rendimento de conversão de glicose em etanol (YP/S) foi de 0,36 g/g, com produtividade volumétrica (QP) de 0,22 g/Lh. / A technology for fractionating lignocellulosic materials, based on the use of suitable solvents, was proposed to separate the main components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin). According to the technique, a solvent for cellulose (concentrated phosphoric acid) is added to the material, then, acetone is added to promote precipitation of the cellulose in an amorphous form. The subsequent steps are as follows: a first extraction with acetone, to remove lignin, and a second extraction with water, to remove hemicellulose. Studies applying the fractionation, called \"COSLIF\" (\"cellulose solvent and organic solvent based lignocellulose fractionation\"), to different materials demonstrated the high rates and yields of cellulose hydrolysis in the presence of low enzymes loadings. In this context, the objective of the present study was to define appropriate conditions to fractionate the sugarcane bagasse of using the COSLIF procedure, aiming the production of 2nd generation ethanol. To optimize the conditions of fractionation, we performed a 25 factorial design, with the following variables: concentration of phosphoric acid (81-85%), temperature (40-60° C), time (30-120 min), volume of acetone (80-120 mL) and volume of water (120-160 mL), determining, from the composition of the generated fractions, the parameters of recovery and selectivity. Despite of high experimental variability, it was possible to define optimum condition, by means of statistical analysis, for the fractionation of 1 g of bagasse (dry weight): phosphoric acid (83,8%), temperature (45,8° C), time (56,1 min), volume of acetone (91,6 mL) and volume of water (131,6 mL). This condition, reproduced at a larger scale, was effective in the amorphization of cellulose and in the separation of hemicellulose in the aqueous extract. The overall yield (RG + X (S + L)) was 87,1%. The recovery yield of glucan in the solid fraction (GR (S)) was 84,6%, and the recovery yield of xylan in the liquid fraction (RX (L)) was 61,0%. The selectivity of glucan recovery in the solid fraction (SG (S)) was 95,3%, the selectivity of xylan recovery in the liquid fraction (SX (G)) was 72,7%. The structural analysis of the solid fraction, by means of X-ray diffraction and thermoporometry, demonstrated that the technology can disrupt the structure of the material, decreasing the crystallinity and increasing the porosity. The index of crystallinity, which in the \"in natura\" bagasse was 44%, was reduced to 0, the surface area cumulative to molecules with diameters up to 10 nm, which in the \"in natura\" bagasse was 43 m2/g, was increased to 166 m2/g. Coupled with the removal of hemicellulose, such changes provided high efficiency of saccharification of glucan into glucose, 93% in 24 hours of hydrolysis. The enzymatic hydrolyzate was fermented by Scheffersomyces stipitis, producing 10,5 g/L ethanol in 48 hours of fermentation, the conversion efficiency of glucose into ethanol (YP/S) was 0,36 g/g, and the volumetric productivity (QP) was 0,22 g/Lhr.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a conversão dos açúcares do bagaço de cana em etanol, com foco na integração entre o pré-tratamento com H2SO4 diluído, sacarificação com celulases comerciais e fermentação com Scheffersomyces stipitis DSM- 3651, buscando-se uma configuração simplificada. Previamente aos ensaios de integração, o bagaço foi moído para a redução de sua heterogeneidade granulométrica. Após a moagem, o bagaço foi submetido a fracionamento, por fluxo de ar, separando frações de fibras e finos. Estas frações foram submetidas a analise composicional e observou-se que a fração de finos possui elevados teores de cinzas e extrativos, além de baixo teor de lignina em relação à fração de fibras, entretanto a estratégia de fracionamento do bagaço não foi seletiva. Os experimentos de definição da condição de pré-tratamento mais adequada para a avaliação entre integração entre sacarificação e fermentação foram conduzidos em reator Parr (2 gal) com 2Kg de mistura reacional, incluindo bagaço (10%), água e ácido. Três condições operacionais de pré-tratamento foram avaliadas: 140°C/1%H2SO4/20 min, 150°C/2% H2SO4/30 min e 160°C/3% H2SO4/40 min. Após o pré-tratamento, o slurry foi separado em sólido pré-tratado e hidrolisado hemicelulósico, por filtração. Em seguida o bagaço pré-tratado foi lavado exaustivamente com água destilada e submetido à hidrólise enzimática com celulases (10 FPU/g bagaço) por 72h. Paralelamente, o hidrolisado foi submetido à fermentação com S. stipitis (3 g/L) por 120h. As composições das frações geradas após o pré-tratamento (bagaço pré-tratado, hidrolisado e água de lavagem), quanto aos teores de açúcares e sólidos (solúveis e insolúveis) foram determinadas. As três condições de pré-tratamento levaram a remoção completa de hemicelulose do bagaço, e o aumento da severidade do pré-tratamento acarretou em aumento da eficiência de sacarificação dos sólidos pré-tratados, porém em menor recuperação de glicose após hidrólise enzimática. Por outro lado, o aumento da severidade do pré-tratamento prejudicou a recuperação de açúcares no hidrolisado hemicelulósico, elevando concentrações de ácido acético, furfural e HMF, resultando em inibição completa de fermentação daqueles obtidos nas condições de 150°C e 160°C. A conversão do sólido prétratado (lavado ou não-lavado) + hidrolisado (destoxificado ou não), e do slurry completo (destoxificado ou não) ambos obtidos após pré-tratamento à 140°C, foi avaliada em duas configurações, respectivamente: \"Fermentação do hidrolisado hemicelulósico (FHH), em separado da sacarificação do sólido pré-tratado e da fermentação do hidrolisado celulósico, separadas (SHF)\" e \"Sacarificação do sólido pré-tratado, em separado da co-fermentação dos hidrolisados celulósico e hemicelulósico, integradas (ISHCF)\". Na primeira, observouse que a destoxificação do hidrolisado com lacase (1U/mL) aumentou a produção de etanol, e possibilitou a redução do tempo de conversão em 48h. A sacarificação de sólidos não-lavados foi prejudicada pela presença de compostos solúveis e o condicionamento com lacase não influenciou a eficiência de sacarificação. A eficiência máxima de conversão em configuração de SHF+FHH foi de 28,4%, devido a não lavagem do sólido pré-tratado (13,7%) e destoxificação do HH (14,7%). Em ISHCF, observou-se que a eficiência de conversão de slurry integral destoxificado com lacase é mais alta (38,9%) do que em SHF+FHH, devido a não separação sólido-líquido e maior disponibilidade de açúcares. / This study aimed to evaluate the conversion of sugarcane bagasse into ethanol, focusing on integration between pretreatment with dilute H2SO4, saccharification with commercial cellulases and fermentation with Scheffersomyces stipitis DSM-3651, in a simplified design process. Prior to integration assays, the bagasse was milled to reduce its granulometric heterogeneity. After milling, the fractions of bagasse (fiber and pith) were separated by air flow. These fractions had their chemical composition determined and it was observed that pith fraction has higher content of ash, soluble extractives and low lignin content than fiber fraction; however the separation method was not selective. The experiments to define the most suitable pretreatment condition for evaluating the integration between saccharification and fermentation were conducted in a Parr reactor (2 gal) with 2 kg of reaction mixture, including bagasse (10%), water and acid. Three operational conditions of pretreatment were evaluated: 140°C/1% H2SO4/20min, 150°C/ 2% H2SO4/30 min and 160°C/3% H2SO4/40min. After pretreatment, the slurry was separated in pretreated solid and hemicellulosic hydrolyzate, by filtration. The pretreated solid was thoroughly washed with distilled water and submitted to enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulases (10 FPU / g residue) for 72h. In parallel, the hemicelullosic hydrolyzate was submitted to fermentation with S. stipitis (3 g / L) for 120h. The compositions of the fractions generated after pretreatment (pretreated bagasse, hemicellulosic hydrolyzate and washing water), regarding sugars and solids (soluble and insoluble) contents were determined. All pretreatment conditions led to complete removal of hemicellulose from the bagasse, and the increase of pretreatment severity improved the saccharification yield of pretreated solid, but, leaded to low recovery of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. On the other hand, the increase of pretreatement severity impaired the recovery of sugars in hemicellulosic hydrolysate besides increasing the concentrations of acetic acid, furfural and HMF, resulting in complete inhibition of fermentation of those obtained under the pretreatement conditions of 150°C and 160°C. The conversion of pretreated solid (washed and non-washed) + hemicellulosic hydrolyzate (with or without detoxification) and of the whole slurry, both obtained at 140°C was evaluated in two process designs, respectively: \"Fermentation of hemicellulosic hydrolyzate (FHH), separated from hydrolysis of pretreated solid and fermentation of cellulosic hydrolyzate, separately (SHF)\" and \"Integrated hydrolysis of pretreated solid separated from co-fermentation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic hydrolysates (ISHCF)\". In the first, it was observed that the detoxification of the hydrolyzate with laccase (1U / ml) improved the ethanol production, particularly for conversion time. The saccharification of non-washed solid was hampered by the presence of soluble compounds and its conditioning treatment with laccase did not influence the saccharification yield. The maximum conversion efficiency in SHF + FHH configuration was 28.4% due to not washing the pretreated solid (13.7%) and detoxification of hemicellulosic hydrolysate (14.7%). In the second process design, it was observed that the conversion efficiency of whole slurry, with laccase detoxification, was higher (38.9%) than in the separate configuration, with a lower conversion time.

A fim de garantir a viabilidade econômica da produção de etanol de segunda geração é necessário o desenvolvimento de tecnologias eficientes para a hidrólise enzimática dos materiais lignocelulósicos. Além disso, o elevado consumo de água pelas biorrefinarias tem despertado grande atenção para a utilização de recursos hídricos não-potáveis, como a água do mar. Assim, atualmente busca-se por enzimas tolerantes a altas concentrações salinas, bem como aos subprodutos gerados e/ou acumulados nas etapas de pré-tratamento da biomassa. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a purificação e caracterização cinética e bioquímica de uma ß-xilosidase produzida por uma linhagem do fungo mesófilo Colletotrichum graminicola. A enzima purificada (Bxcg) apresentou conteúdo de carboidratos totais de 54% (m/m), ponto isoelétrico de 4,2 e uma massa molecular aparente de cerca de 130 kDa, que foi reduzida para cerca de 92 kDa após deglicosilação. A enzima mostrou boa tolerância a elevadas concentrações de sal e manteve cerca de 90% da atividade controle na presença de NaCl 0,5 mol L-1 (concentração média de NaCl na água do mar). A temperatura e pH ótimos de reação foram 65 ºC e 4,5, respectivamente, tanto na ausência quanto na presença de NaCl 0,5 mol L-1. Já na presença de NaCl 2,5 mol L-1 o pH ótimo de atividade foi alterado para 5,0. Bxcg permaneceu estável numa ampla faixa pH (4,0 - 7,5) tanto na ausência quanto na presença de sal. A enzima mostrou ótima estabilidade térmica e manteve completamente estável à 50 ºC após 24 horas de incubação. A presença de elevada concentração de NaCl (2,5 mol L-1) resultou num aumento na termoestabilidade da enzima. A atividade enzimática foi tolerante aos íons Ca2+, Sr2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn 2+, Mg2+, K+ e Na+. Na ausência de sal, Bxcg hidrolisou p-nitrofenil-?-D-xilopiranosídeo (pNP-XIL) com Vmáx de 348,8 ± 11,5 U mg-1, KM de 0,52 ± 0,02 mmol L-1 e alta eficiência catalítica (kcat/KM = 1432,7 ± 47,3 L mmol-1 s-1). Em presença de sal, a afinidade aparente de Bxcg pelo substrato foi levemente menor e a hidrólise ocorreu com Vmáx menor, resultando em eficiência catalítica cerca de 1,5 de vezes menor, se comparadas as condição de ausência de sal. A enzima apresentou atividade bifuncional de ?-xilosidase/?-L-arabinofuranosidase. Bxcg hidrolisou p-nitrofenil-?-L-arabinopiranosídeo com afinidade aparente cerca de 18 vezes menor (KM = 9,6 ± 0,5 mmol L-1) que a estimada para pNP-XIL e a hidrólise do substrato ocorreu com Vmáx de 148,4 ± 4,4 U mg-1 e eficiência catalítica de 33,1 ± 1,6 L mmol-1 s-1. A enzima foi fortemente inibida por xilose com KI de 3,3 mmol L-1. Bxcg foi capaz de hidrolisar xilooligossacarídeos até xilohexaose, inclusive aqueles com ramificação de ácido 4-O-metilglucurônico. Bxcg e uma endo-xilanase purificada do mesmo microrganismo apresentaram um forte efeito sinérgico (3,1 vezes) para hidrólise de xilana beechwood. A enzima mostrou-se tolerante aos solventes butanol, glicerol, tolueno e acetona, bem como aos surfactantes Triton X-100, Tween 80 e Tween 20, enquanto que o líquido iônico acetato de 1-etil-3-metilimidazólio inibiu fortemente a atividade enzimática. De uma maneira geral, Bxcg apresenta propriedades atraentes para a aplicação em processos de sacarificação da biomassa lignocelulósica, incluindo aqueles conduzidos em elevada salinidade e/ou em presença de compostos residuais gerados ou acumulados nas etapas de pré-tratamento da biomassa / In order to ensure the economic viability of the production of second-generation ethanol, it is necessary the development of efficient technologies for the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. In addition, the large consumption of water by biorefineries has attracted great attention for the use of non-potable water resources, such as seawater. Therefore, enzymes tolerant to high salt concentrations and the by-products generated and/or accumulated in the biomass pretreatment steps are widely studied. In this context, the objective of this study was the purification and kinetic and biochemical characterization of a ?-xylosidase produced by a strain of the mesophilic fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. The pure enzyme (Bxcg) showed a total carbohydrate content of 54% (w/w), isoelectric point of 4.2 and an apparent molecular weight of 130 kDa, which was reduced to 92 kDa after deglucosylation. The enzyme showed good tolerance to high salt concentrations and retained aproximately 90% of the control activity in the presence of 0.5 mol L-1 NaCl (NaCl concentration in seawater). The optimum reaction temperature and pH were 65 °C and 4.5, respectively, both in the absence and presence of 0.5 mol L-1 NaCl. In the presence of 2.5 mol L-1 NaCl, the optimum pH was altered to 5.0. Bxcg retained stable over a wide pH range (4.0 - 7.5) both in the absence and presence of salt. The enzyme showed excellent thermal stability and retained completely stable at 50 °C after 24 hours of incubation. The presence of high NaCl concentration (2.5 mol L-1) resulted in an increase in the thermostability of the enzyme. The enzymatic activity was tolerant to Ca2+, Sr2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+. In the absence of salt, Bxcg hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-?-D-xylopyranoside (pNP-XIL) with Vmax of 348.8 ± 11.5 U mg-1, KM of 0.52 ± 0.02 mmol L-1 and high catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM = 1432.7 ± 47.3 L mmol-1 s-1). In the presence of salt, the apparent affinity for the substrate was slightly lower and the hydrolysis occurred with smaller Vmax, resulting in catalytic efficiency 1.5 fold lower, when compared to the salt. The enzyme showed bifunctional ?-xylosidase/?-L-arabinofuranosidase activity. Bxcg hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-?-L-arabinopyranoside with apparent affinity 18-fold lower (KM = 9.6 ± 0.5 mmol L-1) than that estimated for pNP-XIL and substrate hydrolysis occurred with Vmax of 148.4 ± 4.4 U mg-1 and catalytic efficiency of 33.1 ± 1.6 L mmol-1 s-1. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by xylose with KI of 3.3 mmol L-1. Bxcg was able to hydrolyze xylooligosaccharides from xylohexaose, including those with 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid branch. Bxcg and a pure endo-xylanase from the same microorganism had a strong synergistic effect (3.1 fold) for hydrolysis of xylan beechwood. The enzyme was tolerant to the butanol, glycerol, toluene and acetone solvents, as well as the Triton X-100, Tween 80 and Tween 20 surfactants, whereas the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ionic liquid strongly inhibited the enzymatic activity. In summary, Bxcg has attractive properties for application in saccharification processes of the lignocellulosic biomass, particularly under high salinity and/or in the presence of residues of biomass pretreatment steps

La récente définition de Brachypodium distachyon comme modèle des graminées en fait un organisme de choix pour l'étude de leur paroi cellulaire, en particulier dans le cadre de leur utilisation comme matière première renouvelable pour le bioéthanol de seconde génération. Les lignines, dont les trois unités (H, G et S) proviennent de la polymérisation des monolignols, sont associées aux acides hydroxycinnamiques dans la paroi des céréales et représentent l'obstacle majeur à l'exploitation industrielle de la biomasse lignocellulosique. L'acquisition de connaissances sur les mécanismes dirigeant leur mise en place et leur organisation permettrait d'identifier des facteurs modulant les rendements de production qui y sont associés. Quatre familles de gènes ont été étudiées et l'implication dans la voie de biosynthèse des monolignols de trois gènes a été montrée : BdF5H2 possède une activité férulate-5-hydroxylase permettant la synthèse des précurseurs des unités S des lignines, BdCOMT3 est l'isoforme principale des acide cafféique O-Méthyltransférases et sa perte partielle de fonction cause une diminution de la quantité de lignine, la modification du rapport S/G et une baisse de quantité d'acide p-coumarique dans deux lignées mutantes indépendantes. Enfin, BdCAD1 est l'isoforme principale des alcools cinnamylique déshydrogénases : sa perte de fonction dans deux lignées indépendantes cause la diminution de la quantité globale de lignine et d'acide p-coumarique, une baisse du rapport S/G ainsi que l'accumulation de sinapaldéhyde. Par ailleurs ces deux lignées présentent des rendements de saccharification augmentés de plus d'un quart par rapport au sauvage.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:42:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1568529 bytes, checksum: 147a0674e2727bd463b090587ba885b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A model of an international energy matrix, ideally based on renewable and cleaner energy regarded to petrol, is justified because of the increasing awareness on the global warming issue. Moreover, researches on biofuel, as an alternative source of energy, are essential to guarantee the current ranking of the Brazilian energy autonomy, in addition to the interest in production of surplus so to guarantee exportation and generation of foreign exchange. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable biomass in the planet, therefore a good energetic alternative to petrol. Sugarcane has 2/3 of its mass in lingocellulosic material, an abundant energetic resource which is not efficiently used by the current technologies, therefore, representing an enormous potential for the production of lingocellulosic ethanol. Cellulose can be hydrolyzed in glucose residuals by enzymatic treatment as well as base of acids. Technically, there are some barriers associated to acid and /or enzymatic hydrolysis which need to be overcome. Considering enzymatic hydrolyses, the reaction takes place in a non-aggressive medium, however it takes a long waiting time (from 60 to 72 hours) to occur and the lignin compound is one of the main obstacles for the enzyme access to the cellulose. Thus, the present work aimed at obtaining progress for researches on cellulosic ethanol from the bagasse and, potentially, from other sugarcane by-products through selection of clones that shows high potential bioconvertibility fibers. The experiment was made up of 286 clones and 2 witnesses (RB867515 and SP80-1842) in 25 blocks. They were selected from 13 families of half-siblings and they were vegetative propagation first generation clones. Accordingly, it was carried out correlations among desirable biochemical and agronomical traits, evaluating the cause and effect relationship on fibers and lignin of the stem. It was also estimated the possibility on defining characters which have to be used to carry out a recurrent selection program on sugarcane aiming at alcohol production. It was selected 10 clones with highest lignin content and 10 clones with the lowest lignin content in the bagasse. Those 20 clones were evaluated for the possibility in obtaining a higher glucose content after enzymatic hydrolysis process for cellulosic alcohol production. It could be observed that the higher the content of lignin in the bagasse, the lower the content of glucose produced at the end of hydrolyzesprocess. It was also observed that hemicellulose is more efficient on the conversion than saccharification. Hemicellulose functions as a positive factor on fermentable sugar production for fermentation, because it breaks down cellulose structure allowing access of the enzymes and because of its rupture it supplies glucose molecules for fermentation. Therefore, selected clones show a high potential use on sugar cane genetic breeding, even though it is still needed phenotypic and gene expression analysis studies, enzymatic quantification and syntheses of metabolic, correlating them to syntheses of lignin. / Um modelo de matriz energética mundial, idealmente baseado em fontes mais limpas e renováveis de energia em relação ao petróleo, se justifica pela crescente preocupação com a questão do aquecimento global. Além disso, pesquisas em biocombustíveis como fontes alternativas de energia são essenciais para garantir a atual posição de autonomia energética brasileira, além do interesse pela produção de excedentes para garantir a exportação e geração de divisas. Celulose é a biomassa renovável mais abundante na face da terra e por isso, uma boa alternativa energética em relação ao petróleo. Cana de açúcar apresenta na sua massa 2/3 de sua massa em material ligno-celulósico, um recurso energético abundante não utilizado eficientemente por meio das tecnologias atuais, representando portanto, um enorme potencial para a produção de etanol ligno-celulósico. A celulose pode ser hidrolisada em resíduos de glicose tanto por tratamento enzimático ou a base de ácidos. Há inconvenientes associados à hidrólise ácida e/ou enzimática do ponto de vista técnico e que precisam ser superados. No caso da hidrólise enzimática, a reação ocorre em meio não agressivo, porém, requer um longo tempo de espera (60 a 72 horas) e a componente lignina apresenta-se como um dos principais barreiras para o acesso da enzima a celulose. Portanto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo obter avanços nas pesquisas em etanol celulósico a partir do bagaço e, potencialmente, outros resíduos provenientes do processamento da cana-de-açúcar, por meio da seleção de clones que apresentem fibra com elevado potencial de bioconversibilidade. O experimento foi composto por 286 clones e 2 testemunhas (RB867515 e SP80-1842) em 25 blocos. Tais clones foram selecionados de 13 famílias de meios-irmãos e constituíram clones de primeira geração de propagação vegetativa. Para isso efetuou correlações entre características agronômicas e bioquímicas desejáveis, avaliando a relação causa e efeito sobre o fibras e lignina dos colmos. Também estimou-se a possibilidade de definir os caracteres que deverem ser empregados para conduzir um programa de seleção recorrente em cana-de-açúcar visando à produção de álcool celulósico. Dos clones foram selecionas os 10 que apresentaram maior teor de lignina e os 10 que apresentaram menor teor de lignina no bagaço de cana. Os 20 clones foram avaliados quanta a possibilidade de se obter um maior teor de glicose após o processo de hidrólise enzimática para produção de álcool celulósico. Foi possível observar que quanto maior o teor de lignina no bagaço menor o teor de glicose produzida ao final do processo de hidrólise. Também foi observado que o caráter hemicelulose teve maior correlação com a sacarificação. A hemicelulose funciona como um fator positivo na produção de açúcares fermentáveis para a fermentação, pois abre a estrutura da celulose permitindo acesso enzimático e pela sua quebra fornece moléculas de glicose para a fermentação. Portanto os clones selecionados apresentam potencial para aplicação no melhoramento genético da cana de-açúcar, mesmo que ainda sejam necessários estudos complementares fenotípicos e de análise expressão gênica, quantificação enzimática e síntese de metabólicos, correlacionando-os com a síntese de lignina.

Abstract Biomass conversion methods represent bioeconomic solutions for the sustainable production of value added commodities (chemicals and materials) as well as for energy purposes, either in solid (pellets), liquid (transport fuels) or gaseous (combustion gases e.g. biomethane) form. Lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable source available in immense quantity, is considered to be one of the most promising natural sources, with high potential in the replacement of conventional transportation fuels and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis provides new insights into mechanocatalysis, which as yet is a novel technique in catalytic biomass conversion. The mechanocatalytic approach combines chemical catalysis and mechanical assisted processing driven by ball milling. Lignocellulosic barley straw was impregnated or merely mixed with the catalyst (formic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, oxalic acid dihydrate and potassium pyrosulfate) and ball milled under various conditions yielding the selective depolymerization of lignocellulose into water-soluble xylo-oligosaccharides. Subsequent hydrolysis at moderate temperatures resulted in the formation of valuable reducing sugars, mainly xylose, galactose, arabinose and glucose, which constitute the basic materials for transportation fuel and chemical production. Reducing sugar release of 53.4 wt% with low by-product formation was observed within short milling durations using sulfuric acid as a catalyst in mechanocatalysis. Likewise, oxalic acid dihydrate and potassium pyrosulfate as a novel catalyst, successfully converted barley straw to reducing sugars (42.4 wt% and 39.7 wt%, respectively), however longer milling durations were required. In comparison, lower saccharification (<10 wt%) was obtained by employing formic acid and acetic acid in mechanocatalysis. Harsh milling conditions initiated a temperature increase within the reaction vessel resulting in enhanced sugar release. Likewise, greater sugar release was observed with increased catalyst amount and acidity. The results revealed that the balance of these factors is crucial for efficient catalytic conversion of barley straw. / Tiivistelmä Biomassan konvertointimenetelmät mahdollistavat biotalouden hengen mukaisesti uusia ratkaisuja kemikaalien ja materiaalien kestävään tuotantoon sekä biomassan energiakäyttöön eri muodoissa (kuten pelletit, biopolttoaineet ja biokaasu). Lignoselluloosapohjaista, uusiutuvaa biomassaa, kuten tässä työssä tutkittua ohran olkea, on runsaasti saatavilla. Lignoselluloosa onkin yksi lupaavimmista raaka-aineista korvaamaan fossiilisia polttoaineita ja vähentämään kasvihuonekaasupäästöjä. Väitöskirjatutkimus antaa uutta tietoa ohran oljen mekaanis–katalyyttisestä käsittelystä, mikä on suhteellisen uusi menetelmä biomassan katalyyttisessä muokkauksessa. Menetelmässä yhdistetään kemiallinen katalyysi ja mekaaninen muokkaus (jauhatus) kuulamyllyllä. Lignoselluloosa (ohran olki) impregnoitiin tai sekoitettiin tutkitun katalyytin (muurahaishappo, etikkahappo, rikkihappo, oksaalihappodihydraatti, kaliumpyrosulfaatti) kanssa ja käsiteltiin erilaisissa mekaanis–katalyyttisissä olosuhteissa. Lignoselluloosan selektiivinen depolymerointi muodosti vesiliukoisia oligosakkarideja ja edelleen hydrolyysin kautta pelkistyneitä sokereita (pääasiassa ksyloosia, galaktoosia, arabinoosia ja glukoosia), joita voidaan käyttää biopolttoaineiden ja -kemikaalien valmistuksessa. Tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella rikkihappokatalyytillä saatiin 53,4 massa-% ohran oljen sisältämistä pelkistyneistä sokereista vapautettua lyhyillä käsittelyajoilla. Lisäksi sivutuotteiden muodostuminen oli vähäistä. Vastaavasti oksaalihappodihydraatti (sokerisaanto 42,4 massa-%) ja kaliumpyrosulfaatti (sokerisaanto 39,7 massa-%) toimivat uusina katalyytteinä hyvin, mutta vaativat rikkihappokatalyyttiä pidemmät jauhatusajat. Sen sijaan muurahaishapolla ja etikkahapolla sokerisaanto oli erittäin alhainen (alle 10 massa-%) mekaanis–katalyyttisessä käsittelyssä. Tutkimuksessa todettiin, että voimakas jauhatus vaikutti selkeästi reaktiolämpötilan nousuun käsittelyn aikana, mikä edisti korkeampaa sokerisaantoa. Vastaavasti sokerisaantoa voitiin parantaa katalyyttimäärällä ja happamuudella. Tulokset osoittavat, että näiden muuttujien tasapaino on ratkaisevaa ohran oljen tehokkaan katalyyttisen muuntamisen kannalta.

The diploma thesis is focused on production possibilities of bioethanol from waste paper by yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus. Waste cardboard was used as a potential substrate for bioethanol production. Several methods for cardboard preparation were introduced and compared as well as methods of fermentation. Simultaneous sacharification and fermentation and separate hydrolysis and fermentation of preprepared cardboard paper were performed in different pH buffer (4,8-7). Simultaneous sacharification and fermentation was held at a temperature of 45°C. Hydrolysis in separate hydrolysis and fermentation was performed at 50°C and fermentation at 25°C. Procedures outputs were obtained by sampling in specific time intervals and samples were analyzed by HPLC for presence and concentration glucose and ethanol. The results of the analysis have shown that the highest concentration of glucose produced by enzymatic hydrolysis was achieved by using microwaves, 2% H2SO4 and 2% NaOH pretreated paperboard at pH 4,8. The highest yield of ethanol was obtained by separate hydrolysis and fermentation of pulp pretreated by microwaves, 2% H2SO4 and 2% NaOH in pH 5,4 buffer. The method SHF proved to be more effective for the production of ethanol than SSF.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important host in industrial biotechnology. This yeast is the host of choice for the first and second-generation biofuels for ethanol production. Genome modification in S. cerevisiae has been extremely successful largely due to this yeast’s highly efficient homology-directed DNA repair machinery. The advent of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) genome editing technology has made multi-gene editing in yeast more accessible. In this study, we aimed at targeting the Cas9 to multiple genomic positions for integrating multiple genes at different sites. We have developed two CRISPR-Cas9 systems, based on published one- and two-plasmid systems, for application in S. cerevisiae strains. In this study, these CRISPR-Cas9 systems were used to transform fungal heterologous genes into yeast using the electroporation transformation method. We first utilized the CRISPR systems for targeting the T.r.eg2 gene to single locus chromosomal sites for single copy integration. Subsequently, we then targeted the same gene to repeated sequences in the genome, namely the delta sites, for multi-copy integration. The procedure was repeated with a different gene, T.e.cbh1, integrated into the same sites to ascertain reporter gene specific effects. High integration efficiency was achieved, since all the strains successfully integrated the genes. However, we discovered significant differences in enzyme activities between the two genes when targeted to different loci, as well as varying copy numbers as determined by qPCR. The T.e.cbh1 gene was highly expressed by yeast transformants targeted at the repeated delta sequences used for multi-copy integration, reaching maximum levels of 248 mU/gDCW. The T.r.eg2 gene was highly expressed in yeast transformants targeted to the single locus site on chromosome 12, reaching a maximum of 160U/gDCW, though it was shown that off-target integration likely occurred. We then used the information from these observations to construct a CBP yeast strain containing three cellulase genes: T.r.eg2, T.e.cbh1, and S.f.BGL1. Significant differences in enzyme activities were observed between the three genes, and it was shown that the S.f.BGL1 gene was poorly expressed by the CBP yeast strain, whereas the T.r.eg2 gene was highly expressed. Notably, due to the fact that marker containing plasmids could be cured from these strains, many additional genetic changes can still be made. Overall, our two CRISPR-Cas9 systems were efficient at engineering strains that produce recombinant proteins and can be used in future studies for a variety of applications, including metabolic engineering in S. cerevisiae

In this study, the hydrolytic kinetics of mixtures of cotton gin waste (CGW) and recycled paper sludge (RPS) at various initial enzyme concentrations of Spezyme AO3117 and Novozymes NS50052 was investigated. The experiments showed that the concentrations of reducing sugars and the conversions of the mixtures increased with increasing initial enzyme concentration. The reducing sugar concentration and conversion of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS were higher than those of the mixture of 80% CGW and 20% RPS. The conversion of the former could reach 73.8% after a 72-hour hydrolysis at the initial enzyme loading of 17.4 Filter Paper Unit (FPU)/g substrate. A three-parameter kinetic model with convergent property based on enzyme deactivation and its analytical expression were derived. Using nonlinear regression, the parameters of the model were determined from the experimental data of hydrolytic kinetics of the mixtures. Based on this kinetic model of hydrolysis, two profit rate models, representing two kinds of operating modes with and without substrate recycling, were developed. Using the profit rate models, the optimal enzyme loading and hydrolytic time could be predicted for the maximum profit rate in ethanol production according to the costs of enzyme and operation, enzyme loading, and ethanol market price. Simulated results from the models based on the experimental data of hydrolysis of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS showed that use of a high substrate concentration and an operating mode with feedstock recycle could greatly increase the profit rate of ethanol production. The results also demonstrated that the hydrolysis at a low enzyme loading was economically required for systematic optimization of ethanol production. The development of profit rate model points out a way to optimize a monotonic function with variables, such as enzyme loading and hydrolytic time for the maximum profit rate. The study also investigated the ethanol production from the steam-exploded mixture of 75 wt% cotton gin waste and 25 wt% recycled paper sludge at various influencing factors, such as enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and severity factor, by a novel operating mode: semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSSF) consisting of a pre-hydrolysis and a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Four cases were studied: 24-hour pre-hydrolysis + 48-hour SSF (SSSF 24), 12-hour pre-hydrolysis + 60-hour SSF (SSSF 12), 72-hour SSF, and 48-hour hydrolysis + 12-hour fermentation (SHF). SSSF 24 produced higher ethanol concentration, yield, and productivity than the other operating modes. The higher temperature of steam explosion favored of ethanol production, but the higher initial enzyme concentration could not increase the final ethanol concentration though the hydrolytic rate of the substrate was increased. A mathematical model of SSSF, which consisted of an enzymatic hydrolysis model and a SSF model including four ordinary differential equations that describe the changes of cellobiose, glucose, microorganism, and ethanol concentrations with respect to residence time, was developed, and was used to simulate the data for the four components in the SSSF processes of ethanol production from the mixture. The model parameters were determined by a MATLAB program based on the batch experimental data of the SSSF. The analysis to the reaction rates of cellobiose, glucose, cell, and ethanol using the model and the parameters from the experiments showed that the conversion of cellulose to cellobiose was a rate-controlling step in the SSSF process of ethanol production from cellulose. / Ph. D.